Health Problems During Pregnancy and Childbirth

Pregnancy and Childbirth
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Castro, R. T. A., Anderman, C. P., Glover, V., O’Connor, T. G., Ehlert, U., & Kammerer, M. (2017). Associated symptoms of depression: patterns of change during pregnancy. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 20(1), 123-128. DOI: 10.1007/s00737-016-0685-6.
Increasing interest has been directed towards the unpredictable psychological changes in women during pregnancy and after childbirth. In this context, Castro et al. (2017) explore the variations of bodily and psychological symptoms in pregnant women to understand the mechanism and other related aspects that lead to drastic changes in women during this period. Their primary argument is that this duration is characterized by dynamic alterations of the normal hormonal levels of women through a progressive increase in progesterone, estrogen, and cortisol, followed by their abrupt withdrawal at birth. These dramatic and unpremeditated alterations in levels of hormones have a significant impact on the depressive symptoms of women. A systematic investigation of how the various depression changes occur throughout the nine months indicates that women respond differently to the increasing hormonal variations in their system. For instance, a significant proportion reported that they were gradually becoming sensitive to any forms of criticism and were worried about their self-esteem. The authors associate this aspect with the changing biological elements of their bodies, which illustrates the connection between the findings of this article and the one by Gutke et al. (2018). Further results revealed physical changes, including decreased energy and heavy limbs, also significantly impaired their daily routines, contributing to the depressive symptoms. Others confessed to the occasional anxiety, especially in the first three months of their pregnancy. Such an aspect demonstrates that the hormonal fluctuations in the early trimester significantly impact the psychological outcomes during pregnancy. Uncovering these elements through this study brings unique perspectives and implications in healthcare because it informs the need for targeted assessment and management of depression during pregnancy and childbirth.
Gutke, A., Bullington, J., Lund, M., & Lundberg, M. (2018). Adaptation to a changed body. Experiences of living with long-term pelvic girdle pain after childbirth. Disability and Rehabilitation, 40(25), 3054-3060. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2017.1368724.
            The article by Gutke et al. (2018) explores the dynamics of pregnancy and childbirth and how it affects the biology of the woman’s body. They reveal that pregnancy is a draining period that exerts pressure on the woman’s system and can leave her with long-term marks of the process. The pelvic girdle pain that the authors highlight affects about 20% of women after delivery across the globe. Findings from Gutke et al.’s (2018) study underscores that the emergence of this pain is a significant issue of concern in the mother’s life. For instance, evidence indicates that it triggers worrying functional limitations after childbirth, threatening their ability to execute routine activities. Such an interruption in the normal functioning of the mother is an illustration of diminished quality of life since they cannot resume their productivity. Statistics indicate that almost 30% of the mothers’ grapple with persistent episodes of this childbirth-related consequence, interfe...